Adjoining Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle Park is an expansive area including the city’s reconstructed castle structures. For around 300 years and the end of Edo Period, the castle was the stronghold of the Maeda Clan, who dominated the region and were the second most powerful family in Japan, behind the Tokugawa Shogunate. This castle was a place of frequent fighting during the 15th and 16th centuries, even though it was not as large and grand as it would end up being during the Edo period. The area was greatly developed by the Ikko-Ikki Buddhist rebels that overthrew the local lord and established the “Peasant’s Kingdom.” The current castle traces back from the aforementioned Maeda family when they took over around the year 1600. So as you walk through the castle you can feel the history of the various groups that left their stamp on the site.

While the majority of the structure is a reconstruction – the Ishikawa-mon Gate and two store houses being exceptions – the buildings have been beautifully restored with the surrounding grounds highly manicured. There is currently construction going on in the middle of the castle so you can get a look at this restoration in practice. As such, Kanazawa offers great insight to the history of Kanazawa, particularly when combing a visit with the adjoining Kenrokuen Garden and nearby historic districts.

Kanazawa is quite friendly for those who are walking around the city and there are many sites that are within a 5-20 minute walk of Kanazawa Castle. It directly adjoins Kenrokuen Park at its entrance which also is next to the daimyo villa of Seisonkaku and Ishiura shrine, famous for its pond and tunnel of torii gates. The Higashichaya Teahouse District, Oyama Shrine, DT Suzuki Museum, 21st Century Museum and Kazuemachi Geisha District are all also within a comfortable walk and help you dive even deeper into this fascinating city.

Are you interested in a guided tour around this beautiful city? See the castle and many of the other sites mentioned above and all in one day!

KANAZAWA MAIN SIGHTS TOUR / all year round

1 Day Tour

1-Day Tour from Kanazawa: Samurai, Matcha, Gardens and Geisha
Period	All Year Round
Time	09:00 – 17:30
Meeting Place	Kanazawa Station
Adult Rate	¥17,800
Child Rate	¥11,000

This tour has you walk in the same streets as those from times past. Walk the streets the samurai of the Kaga clan and see a warriors house from the Edo period. Relax and enjoy maccha in a tea house overlooking a beautiful garden next to the impressive castle walls. Stroll through the Kenroku-en garden like the daimyos of the Edo period and admire the artistry of the landscaping of not just the land but of the trees as well. Finally, walk through Higashi Chayamachi, the old geisha district, where you can shop, snack and take a tour of a former tea house that was used by actual geisha in the past.